The successful exploration of dimension stone mainly depends on the quality, size, and shape of extractable blocks of dimension stone. The investigated area is in the Pelješac Peninsula (Croatia), in the External Dinarides orogeny, built from thick carbonate succession, characterized by relatively small deposits of high-quality dimension stone. These conditions demand challenging geological investigations in the “pre-quarry” phase to find optimal quarry location. The size and shape of dimension stone blocks are mainly controlled by fracture pattern systems. In the rugged, covered terrains, it is very hard to obtain a satisfactory amount of fracture data from the surface, so it is necessary to collect them from the underground. Borehole camera technology can visualize the inner part of the rock mass and measure the fracture characteristics. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the digital borehole camera technology provides a quick, effective, and low-cost geological survey of fractured rock mass; (2) statistical fracture distribution parameters, P10, fracture spacing, Volumetric Joint Count (Jv) based on borehole wall survey can reflect the integrity of rock mass, providing a solid decision-making base for further investment plans and dimension stone excavation method.

Background Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several inflammatory markers have been investigated as possible predictors of survival. Ferritin and from recently LDH have emerged as a possible marker that could serve to this purpose, with different cut-off levels than standard. Furthermore, serum elevations of these markers were reported in other viral infections such as dengue fever; while it has not been reported in MERS and SARS outbreaks and possibly making a biochemical distinction between COVID-19 and other similar diseases. The aim of this research was to establish independent admission levels of ferritin and LDH that predict lethal outcome more accurately. Methods In this prospective cohort study all the patients were hospitalized at UKC, B&H (n=137), between 28th of March and 1st of August 2020. The criteria for hospitalization was based on MEWS score, and all the inflammatory markers were evaluated in the first 72 hours of admission. Cut-off values of serum ferritin levels were set at 1500 ng/mL and LDH 350 U/L. Results Patients with serum ferritin levels >1500 ng/mL had 7.304 OR (CI95% 1.956-27.277; p=0.003) higher for lethal outcome than the group with <1500 ng/mL. Also, patients with levels of LDH >350 U/I had 5.560 (CI95% 2.480-12.468; p<0.001) higher OR of lethal outcome than patients with LDH <350 U/L. With the significant statistical difference between group means for both ferritin and LDH (p<0.001).Discussion Serum levels of ferritin >1500 ng/ml and LDH >350 U/L increase OR of lethal outcome. The levels of these inflammatory markers indicate the degree of inflammatory response and severity of the disaese as well as the possible outcome of the disease. Together these two markers could be used as predictors in clinical settings and treatment planning of patients with COVID-19.Conclusion: Together these two markers could be used as predictors in clinical settings and treatment planning of patients with COVID-19.

Most children with a proven coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. However, a small number of children have been identified in the past 2 months with developed significant multisystem inflammatory response. All children were treated according to standard protocols. Children with this disease may require hospitalization in pediatric intensive care unit with a multisystem team approach to the disease, which includes pediatricians, infectologists, cardiologists, rheumatologists, immunologists, and epidemiologists. This extremely rare disease is curable if diagnosed in time. This rare syndrome has features in common with other pediatric inflammatory diseases including Kawasaki syndrome, staphylococcal and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, bacterial sepsis, macrophage activation syndrome, and may present with unusual abdominal pain including elevated inflammation markers. Early recognition of this disease by a pediatrician or family doctor specialist is crucial for the timely treatment and outcome of the disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of the Kurjak antenatal neurodevelopmental test (KANET) in multicentric studies. Materials and methods: In KANET, normal, borderline, and abnormal fetuses postnatal development was followed. The Chi-square was considered significant if p < 0.05 was used in the statistical analysis. Specificity, sensitivity, prevalence, positive and negative predictive value, false-positive, and false-negative results were calculated. Results: In 3,709 singleton fetuses, KANET was assessed. Postnatal follow-up was available for 1,556 of 1,573 (42.4%) infants. For 2,136, the data were not available. Interrater reliability (κ coefficient) for low-risk fetuses was between 0.64 and 0.65 (agreement 94.2–97.3%), for high-risk fetuses was between 0.44 and 0.53 (agreement 70.5–78.9%), respectively. Borderline KANET was found in 153 (9.7%), abnormal in 52 (3.3%), both more prevalent in high-risk pregnancies ( χ 2 = 457.36; df = 2; p < 0.01). Abnormal KANET was connected with severe postnatal developmental delay ( χ 2 = 315.28; df = 6; p < 0.01). In 47 out of 1,102 children aged 2 years and more, abnormal KANET was found, among them in one with CP. In 1 out of 1,055 children with normal KANET, severe developmental delay was found. The KANET has low sensitivity for detection of developmental delay and CP. The KANET specificity is high for all tested variables, positive predictive value and the false-positive rate are high, the negative predictive value is high (99.77–99.95%), and the false-negative rate is low (0.23–0.05%). Conclusion: With normal KANET, there is a high probability of normal infant development. If the KANET score is borderline or abnormal in high-risk pregnancies, postnatal development may appear abnormal.

The advanced notebooks, mobile phones, and Internet applications in today’s world that we use are all entrenched in classical communication bits of zeros and ones. Classical Internet has laid its foundation originating from the amalgamation of mathematics and Claude Shannon’s theory of information. However, today’s Internet technology is a playground for eavesdroppers. This poses a serious challenge to various applications that rely on classical Internet technology, and it has motivated the researchers to switch to new technologies that are fundamentally more secure. By exploring the quantum effects, researchers paved the way into quantum networks that provide security, privacy, and range of capabilities such as quantum computation, communication, and metrology. The realization of Quantum Internet (QI) requires quantum communication between various remote nodes through quantum channels guarded by quantum cryptographic protocols. Such networks rely upon quantum bits (qubits) that can simultaneously take the value of zeros and ones. Due to the extraordinary properties of qubits such as superposition, entanglement, and teleportation, it gives an edge to quantum networks over traditional networks in many ways. At the same time, transmitting qubits over long distances is a formidable task and extensive research is going on satellite-based quantum communication, which will deliver breakthroughs for physically realizing QI in near future. In this paper, QI functionalities, technologies, applications and open challenges have been extensively surveyed to help readers gain a basic understanding of the infrastructure required for the development of the global QI.

There is an evident lack of studies examining the pursuit of excellence in futsal. The aims of this study were to evaluate anthropometric and physiological variables that may contribute to distinguishing among performance levels in professional futsal players and to evaluate correlates of those variables. The participants were 75 male professionals (age = 25.1 ± 5.1 years, body height = 182.3 ± 6.2 cm, body mass = 80.8 ± 10.4 kg), who were divided into performance levels using two criteria: (i) starters (first teams) vs. non-starters (substitutes) and (ii) top-level players (members of the national team and players who participated in top-level team competition in Europe) vs. high-level players (team players competing at the highest national competitive rank). Variables included anthropometrics (body height and mass, BMI, body fat percentage), generic tests of physiological capacities [5- and 10-m sprints, countermovement jump, broad jump, 20-yard test, reactive strength index (RSI)], and futsal-specific fitness tests [kicking speed by dominant and non-dominant leg, futsal-specific tests of change of direction speed, and reactive agility (FSRAG) involving/not involving dribbling the ball]. Top-level players outperformed high-level players in RSI, broad jump, kicking speed, and FSRAG involving dribbling. Starters achieved better results than non-starters in fewer variables, including kicking speed and RSI. Body fat percentage negatively influenced FSRAG involving dribbling, and RSI. FSRAG, RSI, and kicking speed were significantly correlated, indicating the similar physiological background of these capacities. The findings suggest that enhanced reactive strength and the ability to rapidly change direction speed in response to external stimulus while executing futsal-specific motor tasks (e.g., dribbling), along with players’ ability to kick the ball speedily, can be considered essential qualities required for advanced performance in futsal. Consequently, futsal strength and conditioning training should be targeted toward lowering relative body fat, maximizing lower-body reactive strength and including futsal-specific skills (e.g., dribbling, shooting) in reactive agility drills.

Book review. Sadia Belkhir (ed.). Cognition and language learning. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2020. Pp. 157.

Pyrophyllite clay, modified with PVP coated silver nanoparticles (PYRO-PVP/AgNPs), with recently proved antibacterial activity was prepared. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical reduction method of AgNO3 using NaBH4 and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a stabilizer and excellent dispersant. This research aimed to elucidate the mechanisms and kinetics of AgNPs, along with the PVP protective mechanism responsible for antibacterial activity towards the microorganisms. Pioneering steps were made toward coagulation studies due to the potential of aluminosilicate layered clays to serve as alternatives to hemostatic agents currently in use. The isoelectric point of pyrophyllite samples with 5, 20, and 45 μm diameter particles and PYRO/PVP/AgNPs sample (Ag25mg/L) was evaluated to understand how the anticoagulant or procoagulant properties of the pyrophyllite varied according to the pH of the isoelectric point. Characterization of the PYRO-PVP/AgNPs samples was performed using FTIR spectroscopy, while the release mechanism and kinetics of silver ions were monitored using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Additionally, AAS was used for the evaluation of heavy metals content in pyrophyllite clay and a simple, cost-effective procedure was proposed for the extraction of heavy metals.

In this paper, cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester fabrics were modified by using herbal extract of Picea omorika and copper ferrite nanoparticles and their antibacterial and dielectric properties were investigated. Antibacterial activities of all samples were examined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Most of the fabrics modified by copper ferrite showed antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, while the addition of the herbal extract improved their antibacterial protection. Dielectric properties were measured in frequency range from 24 Hz to 75 kHz at room temperature and the results showed that the modification of all three fabrics with copper ferrite caused increase in their electrical conductivity. The obtained results point to the possibility of using investigated fabrics for antibacterial protection as well as for the electromagnetic shielding application.

The effect of methyl methacrylate (MMA) addition on the properties of synthesized acrylate emulsions based on butyl acrylate (BA) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) was investigated. The samples were synthesized by addition of MMA in copolymer structure, ranging from 10 to 50 wt% of the total mass of BA and EHA. Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the molecular structure of synthesized acrylate emulsions and the results confirmed that a quantitative polymerization reaction occurred. The analysis of thermal properties showed that the addition of methyl methacrylate increases the glass transition temperature of the acrylate films obtained by drying the synthesized emulsions. The tensile strength and elongation at break increased proportionally with the increase of the content of MMA in the synthesized samples. Since the obtained acrylate materials can be used to improve the water impermeability of paper and other materials, the obtained emulsion was applied in a thin layer on a sheet of paper and the resistance of the paper to water and oil was investigated. The results showed that all emulsions were impermeable both to water and oil.

The construction industry is responsible for a large amount of both embodied carbon and emissions. Especially with concrete, there is still a lot of potential for designing recipes in a more ecological way. Approaches to reduce the environmental impact of concrete include the use of industrial and agricultural by-products. This study combines the approaches of replacing cement with granulated blast furnace slag and the use of NaOH-treated rice straw fibers. The research objective comprises the design of an ecologically optimized concrete as well as the question of whether a pretreatment of rice straw fibers with NaOH improves the performance of the designed concrete. The method includes mechanical and physical testing of the of the designed concrete as well as an optical analysis with a scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that treating rice straw with 1% NaOH indicates a better bond between fibers and the surrounding matrix. The tests in which the rice straw was treated with NaOH achieved a higher density, splitting strength, tensile strength and compressive strength. The study contributes an ecologically optimized concrete with granulated blast furnace slag and NaOH-treated rice straw concrete, which shows a great potential as an environmentally friendly, low-cost construction material.